RPS – Chapter 90 Mid-Autumn

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, no one but Li Feng knew what it was, let alone what it meant. They had never celebrated or commemorated any special day before. For them, being able to eat their fill was the most important thing; other matters never even crossed their minds.

“Li Feng, what does Mid-Autumn mean? Why do people celebrate it? It feels so strange.” Nuo asked as he kneaded dough on a clean stone table, while Li Feng stood beside him acting as the technical guide.

Crunch! Li Feng bit into a piece of fruit and mumbled through his mouthful, “Mid-Autumn is about reunion. A family is like a circle, and on this day everyone gathers together. Also, the moon is the roundest on this night.” Because he was pregnant and forbidden from heavy labor, he could only direct from the side.

“But we’re already all at home together. Why do we still need to celebrate it?” Nuo still couldn’t understand what was so special about this festival.

“Well, we’ve got nothing better to do. Let’s treat it like giving ourselves a holiday, eh?” Li Feng couldn’t be bothered to explain further. He worried the more he explained, the less Nuo would understand. Honestly, he himself wasn’t all that clear either. But he was used to it—after all, people had been gazing at the moon and celebrating Mid-Autumn for thousands of years, praying for reunion.

“Hah, you just want an excuse to slack off!” Nuo pouted but continued kneading the dough. Somehow, Li Feng had figured out how to make leavened dough, and last night a big bowlful had risen nicely. This morning, right after breakfast, Nuo had dragged Li Feng to guide him in kneading it, saying they were going to make something called ‘mooncakes.’ What a strange name. But it was probably going to taste good—after all, anything Li Feng cooked never failed to be delicious. So even if he had to knead dough, Nuo was more than willing. He wanted to try those mooncakes too. He couldn’t help wondering what they’d look and taste like when done.

“Don’t be like the dog biting Lü Dongbin—unable to recognize a kind heart. I’m doing this so everyone can take a break! And I’m not slacking—I’m being perfectly open about it!” Li Feng finished the last bite of his fruit, then tossed the pit dramatically out the doorway before patting Nuo on the shoulder.

“Li Feng, you’re throwing things around again?” Li walked in from outside holding the very fruit pit Li Feng had just tossed.

“Uh… that was an accident!” Li Feng always liked to throw fruit seeds outside without checking if anyone was there. Whenever scolded, he’d argue confidently, ‘I’m just seeing if they’ll sprout. Tossing them in the corner is perfect!’

“Oh, the baby’s awake. I’ll go check!” Li Feng, spotting Li coming in with a smile, quickly seized the perfect excuse to run off. Sure enough, the baby had woken and was calling for Daddy.

Nuo pushed his drooping hair back with his forearm and burst out laughing as he watched Li Feng dash toward the room. “Hey, Li, you see how you scared Li Feng? He’s pregnant and still running so fast!”

Li only shook his head helplessly. Every time Li Feng’s reckless tossing ended up hitting him, he’d grab him and kiss him breathless as punishment—and also to satisfy the desires he’d had to suppress since Li Feng became pregnant.

“What are you two chatting about?” Li Feng came back out, belly now very noticeable, holding the baby who had just woken up.

“Talking about how fast you ran.” Nuo grinned wider at Li Feng’s darkened expression.

“Daddy…” The baby’s milky voice called, puzzled why Daddy’s face had turned gloomy.

“Sweetheart, you see that bad uncle? From now on, let’s not play with him.” Li Feng pointed at Nuo while speaking to the baby in his arms.

“Hey, Li Feng, that’s not fair! Baby, don’t listen to your daddy. He’s the real troublemaker. Just wait, Uncle Nuo’s making you mooncakes right now!” Nuo wiped his flour-covered hands across his own face, leaving streaks like claw marks.

“Hmph! Come on, sweetheart, let’s ignore him. Daddy will take you outside to play. Want to go on the swing? Or we could just take a walk.” Li Feng flicked his ponytail, the strands drawing a graceful arc in the air, then carried the baby out the door. As he left, he called back, “By the way, knead that dough properly! All our mooncakes are in your hands—I’ll be back to check!”

Nuo stomped his feet in frustration. Li Feng was getting naughtier by the day, especially since getting pregnant. All he did now was bully him! Nuo thought back to his carefree past—nowadays he spent his days spinning thread till moonrise and working like Li Feng’s laborer, unable to resist, because Li Feng was the revered one in the house now. After all, in pregnancy, his word was law. With no place to vent, Nuo yelled toward Li, “Li, aren’t you going to do something about your wife? All he does is bully people!” The word wife was something they’d picked up from Li Feng’s stories—originally a term for one’s female partner. Hmph, well Li Feng was Li’s wife now! Nuo thought angrily, forgetting he himself wasn’t much better off.

Li gave Nuo a look. “My wife’s gotten mischievous lately. I’ll go discipline him right now.” And with that, he went straight outside.

Nuo froze, stunned. Was Li making a cold joke? That was Li Feng’s specialty! Since when did Li learn to do that? Ugh, wife—what a bizarre title!

Carrying the baby, Li Feng wrinkled his nose. Hmph, wife? Aren’t you a wife too? Look at you, daring to tease me. Well, I won’t stoop to your level. A prime minister’s heart is broad enough to float a boat. I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear it.

“Why are you always teasing Nuo?” Li rattled the baby’s rattle, its thumping sounds capturing the child’s full attention.

“Where did I tease him? Don’t slander a good person!” Li Feng snatched the rattle away and shook it himself, coaxing the baby, who eagerly reached for it.

“Right, you didn’t tease him—it was all my slander.” Li kissed Li Feng on the cheek, grinning. It didn’t matter; Li Feng was just stubborn-tongued. Besides, he knew Li Feng and Nuo were only playing around. He himself just used the chance to steal a kiss.

“Go on, get away!” Li Feng pushed Li’s approaching face aside. “Since you’re free, why don’t you clean out the animal pens in the back? It’s starting to smell, and it’s uncomfortable to sleep at night!” He smiled slyly. The pens weren’t that close, and although it was hot, Li Feng hadn’t actually noticed any smell. Still, better to keep them clean in summer—it prevented sickness in the animals, which were their food supply, and kept diseases from spreading to people. And this kind of dirty chore was perfect for keeping Li busy, instead of pestering him like a clingy puppy all the time.

“Why are you bullying me too?” Li frowned pitifully. “I’m your man!”

“Tch, and I’m your man too!” Li Feng pouted. “Now hurry up. Or do you want me to go clean it instead? Fine, then you take the baby, and I’ll go.” He made as if to hand the baby over.

“Hey, hey, I was just kidding! I’ll go right now. But at least give me another kiss first.” Li took the chance to plant a loud kiss right on Li Feng’s lips, making even the baby stare curiously.

Li Feng’s face turned bright red. This rogue! Doing that in front of the baby too. “Go already!”

“Baby, don’t be a little pervert like that rogue!” Li Feng gently pulled the baby down from trying to kiss his lips and patted his tiny bottom. All Li’s fault—he’d corrupted the child! Usually, the baby only kissed people on the cheek.

“Daddy, Daddy…” The baby protested after being pulled down, bouncing on the ground with little arms stretched out, wanting hugs and kisses. Though still unsteady standing alone, with Li Feng’s support he could bounce with surprising strength. Li Feng had to be careful—he already had another one in his belly, and he couldn’t risk this lively little one kicking him.

“Calling Daddy won’t help. Come on, let’s go see if Uncle Nuo’s done kneading.” Li Feng bent down, holding the baby by the armpits, and guided his wobbly steps back inside.

Truth be told, Li Feng didn’t actually know how to make mooncakes. He remembered they were usually baked, but with their limited tools, that was out of the question. Still, mooncakes didn’t have to be baked, right? As long as they were round like the moon, steaming or boiling them should work too!

But baking would surely taste better. He remembered as a child, there’d been an iron clamp for baking flatbreads over the fire. The two clamped pieces had matching grooves with patterns inside. Place dough inside, hold it over the fire, and it cooked in no time. Mooncakes could be done like that. Too bad they had no iron, let alone such a mold. Stone wasn’t an option either—it heated too slowly and unevenly. Who knew how long it would take just to cook one cake.

“So, we’ll steam the mooncakes!” Li Feng decided, looking at the thick, round pastries stuffed with egg yolk, salted meat, and fruit paste. He wondered how they’d turn out—steamed, they’d probably taste like buns.

Everyone else just followed his lead. “You say how, we’ll do it that way!”

Li Feng eyed the table full of mooncakes, still uncertain. Would they taste right? Steaming made him think of stuffed buns, and these mooncakes with filling were practically buns already.

“Let’s steam half and bake the other half. We’re cooking other dishes anyway—it won’t matter.” He comforted himself. After all, mooncakes were just like snacks. He’d made so many dishes they might not even get to the mooncakes.

For baking, he used a stone slab, covering it with a clean clay pot. He greased both the slab and the mooncake bottoms with lard to prevent sticking. Whether good or bad, it was worth trying.

Unlike an oven, a stone slab needed time. He preheated it, then cooked the mooncakes over a big fire for half an hour, worried they might otherwise stay raw—a waste he couldn’t bear.

That night, the Mid-Autumn moon shone at its fullest. The family gathered under the willow tree at the stone table in their yard, the table laden with dishes: braised fish caught from the river; braised pork, stir-fried snails, soy-braised duck, chicken with mushrooms; steamed eggs, scrambled eggs, cold dishes, and several stir-fries. The main courses were steamed buns and dough-drop soup. Though they lacked rice, Li Feng was deeply moved. Today, he had barely lifted a hand—everyone else had caught the fish, slaughtered the chicken and duck, and cooked under his guidance. This was everyone’s heartfelt effort, and the food tasted all the better for it.

Kata and his two brothers had also been invited. Since it was a holiday and they were neighbors and friends, of course they joined in. They had helped plenty too, catching fish, slaughtering poultry, and plucking feathers. Several fish still swam in their water tank, waiting for later meals.

The bright, round moon bathed the yard in gentle light. A cool autumn breeze drifted through—not cold, but refreshingly crisp.

“Wow, the Mid-Autumn moon really is beautiful!” Mo exclaimed, gnawing a chicken foot and pointing with his greasy fingers. He had never noticed before.

“Heh, that’s because it’s Mid-Autumn. Everyone’s together!” Li Feng said cheerfully, wiping the baby’s mouth after he finished his steamed egg. No matter how pretty the moon, it only truly shone when the whole family enjoyed it together—otherwise, it was just loneliness and desolation.

“Li Feng, we want to eat the mooncakes!” Nuo cried impatiently. He had been waiting all day, but Li Feng insisted they save them for the evening. Now, after stuffing themselves with the feast, he was still eager to taste the legendary mooncakes. He had only seen them, never tried one.

“Then go bring them over!” Li Feng had already set out dried fruit and other round fruits for good luck and reunion.

Nuo dashed to the room and carried out the mooncakes. “Haha, here they are—the legendary mooncakes!”